María Luján Rey: “Victims of former tragedies oppose Julio de Vido’s house arrest”

“Just because you’re over 70 doesn’t exempt you from going to prison,” he said. maria lujan reyMother of Lucas Menghini Rey, one of the 52 victims of the former tragedy. The current head of the Crime Victims Observatory celebrated the ratification of former minister Julio de Vido’s sentence and announced that his family would oppose any benefits, saying: “We will refuse to give him house arrest. He must serve four years in a regular prison if necessary.” in fonte vecchia modeon Net TV and Radio Perfil (AM 1190). , also questioned the lack of a national rail policy, saying that “travel will continue to depend on luck.” fonte vecchia modeon Net TV and Radio Perfil (AM 1190).

Maria Lujan Rey is a teacher, activist, and current executive director of the House Crime Victims Observatory. She represented the province of Buenos Aires from 2019 to 2023. She is the mother of Lucas Menghini Rey, one of the victims of the fateful Once tragedy in 2012, in which 52 people died.

What happened to you when you learned yesterday afternoon that there had been an accident on the same branch of the Sarmiento train near Ligne, this time, fortunately without any fatalities?

Like you, I can’t help but relive the February 2012 footage when I see it on TV. After February 21, 2012, there was uncertainty, not knowing whether there were any injuries, whether it was true, and whether there were any fatalities. Fortunately, after hearing Dr. Crescenti’s story, we were reassured that the injuries were minor. But it’s not a complicated feeling. On the one hand, we learned the news of the conviction of former minister Julio de Vido, and on the other hand, two years later, we still continue to rely on luck when traveling.

Well, haven’t we learned anything?

Yes, I think we often believe in luck. That’s the reality The answers given always seem patchworkit’s like putting a bandage on a bad wound that needs surgery. AcRailroads need deep state policyand it goes beyond the governmentknow thatthis will take years. But hey, someone has to start it. What we have seen is that we are repairing, we are doing… The train that we derailed is a train that was purchased after an earlier tragedy. Those trains took our lives. However, railway systems are more than just rolling stock. Also includes railway tracks, stations, and signal systems. And everything that needs to be maintained needs to be modernized. I believe we are doing what is necessary and fair, but I feel that we are lacking a positive perspective that says, “Let’s get back on track and make investments, no matter how long it takes.” Let’s get back to the fact that trains aren’t just for passengers. A strong railway network that can also transport cargo.

The Supreme Court has confirmed Julio de Vido’s four-year prison sentence and he must appear in court on Thursday the 13th.

Returning to the discussion, the proposal is again to “privatize the railways,” so it seems like we are in a loop. Every time the pendulum appears, we nationalize it, privatize it, and it still remains bad. Is privatizing it again the solution today?

In the past, tragedies occurred during the era of civil rule. Actually, it’s debatable, and I understand that there are different positions on whether it’s public or private. There are some issues that cannot be delegated.and that is the power and duty of the nation-state. It doesn’t matter who is managing the service. What was given was service. But rolling stock, railroad tracks, stations, and workshops have always been the property of nation-states.

must Take care of your assets firstagainst his assets, it was proved that he did not manage them in case of tragedy. And secondly, you have the following obligations: take care of the people Through control mechanisms. Therefore, there is no way for the state to delegate its functions. Now, the question of whether it is public or private is another discussion, but whether it is public or private, the state needs to manage it.

Passengers are not interested in whether the person controlling the service is a private company or a state. What passengers are interested in is boarding the train in good condition.travel with dignity, and above all, safety;Ensures your trip reaches its destination on time and in good condition. Who will do it? it doesn’t matter. The reality is that what passengers care about and need is to be guaranteed a decent and safe journey. And that is the responsibility of the nation-state. Now, if you’re going to do it in private, do it.

Today, De Vido is calling for the decision to be reconsidered, saying it was arbitrary. What do you see in this?

No, I can’t ask for anything more. This conviction has already been confirmed by the Supreme Court. He was sentenced to four years in prison for a previous tragedy. You have to show up and fulfill it. The only thing he can do now is, as his lawyer has in fact done and is sure to argue when he appears in Komodoro Pi court tomorrow. advantagehouse arrest, etc. Certainly due to health problems or being over 70 years old. for victim law, In this judgment, which was sanctioned in 2018, when faced with a claim for benefits, the judge enforcing the judgment ordered that: Duty to notify victims And please hear our position on this issue. and obviously We are going to refuse to benefit from it..

First of all, consider the following: Being over 70 does not exempt you from going to prison.It said if the former minister’s health problems were treatable, he would not be exempt from serving time in a regular prison, as he is currently doing. Ricardo JaimeConvicted on the same grounds, he requests monthly house arrest, but is denied monthly despite having health problems and being over 70 years old. Due to the seriousness of the event, it corresponds. A former minister was sentenced to four years in prison for his actions. 52 deaths. And recently, he was seen on Zoom facing another trial in another huge corruption case, indicating that all Argentines are there as defendants. I can’t get enough of my appetite.

Ricardo Jaime surrenders in Comodoro Pi to serve sentence for once tragedy

What do you think about the trial over the notebook, the corruption trial in which Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is also accused? That’s exactly where the former president is under house arrest.

He is under house arrest for another reason. Sentencing laws are clear and say it is up to the judge to award benefits. The judge is not obliged to give it, but must evaluate it. And each judge has the ability to approve or reject it. I know he has it too and they could take it away tomorrow, it’s up to each judge’s discretion. What I’m marking as the difference is: The cause that put the woman in prison, there were no charges, the victim is on the other side. In this case we would look like this: we are part of the family. And families will demand compliance with the law. We will demand that victims’ laws be respected, that our voices be heard, and that this evil person be sentenced to four years in prison.

Do you feel you have fulfilled your role as a son through this failure?

Yeah. I believe that I fulfill him every day when I wake up and work so that his daughter, my granddaughter who is now 18 years old, can live in a better country. and Without a doubt, every time one of these thieves, corrupt people goes to prison, Argentina becomes a better country. I am at peace with the fact that I overcame the odds and did the right thing, and along with the rest of my family, I had to give my body and soul to this fight. But I also think we have a right to live in a better country. And a better country is one where those who make it pay for it, wherever it comes from and whatever its name.

And in this better country you’re talking about, you spent time in Congress. How was the balance between PRO and time in Congress? Is there anything left to be desired?

Yes, I wanted to keep fighting and keep contributing. It was very fulfilling for me and gave me the first opportunity to present my project. Some people have achieved half sanctions, this is related to what I experienced. For example, I achieved half clearance for my author project. Well, after that it was never debated in the Senate. But that is why, for example, the Court of Cassation fixed a time for reconsidering the judgment. Because what we’ve seen, and what’s happened to me, is that when you hear the verdict after a trial that took two years to unfold, people hear that they’ve been sentenced to nine years in prison, and they ask their lawyers and say, “Well, they’re going home.” And now we have to wait for it to solidify.

Maria Lujan Rey: “More than 400 derailments were reported in 2023 alone”

For it to be solid, Cashion has to say it. I say this. “So when is Cashion?” “No, he doesn’t have time,” he says. And the reason is that “he doesn’t have time”, There are cases where Mr. Casacion has dragged on for more than 20 years.and they say, “Well, nothing, I’m ready, that’s it.” Due to the passage of time, this case is closed. Time passed because they allowed it to pass. you need to do the same supreme court. The ratification of Julio de Vido’s conviction by the court took place seven years after the court convicted him. because? Because they don’t have deadlines. Well, that’s one of the projects. Amendments to road laws and zero-alcohol laws.

Are there any bridges or connections with the current government to address this? Do you have a phone or can you contact me?

Currently, I am in charge of the Crime Victims Observatory in the House of Commons, and I am trying to fulfill the mission of this group: to disseminate and inform the public about the law, accompany victims on projects that are of interest to them, and propose projects from the victims’ perspective. Most recently, I’ve been working with the Fentanyl Victims Commission to train security forces from the victim’s perspective, to think that security forces are the first to arrive at the scene of a crime, the first point of contact for victims, and to avoid the re-victimization that we suffer from.

The Victims Act was enacted to change the paradigm, but it must be accompanied by awareness. Victims need to understand that no one chooses to be there, that they are not responsible for what happens to them, that they must be treated with dignity, and that they must be informed. Well, that’s all we’re doing. And I hope that I can return to the venue someday and continue to contribute.